Means for holding pistons against vibration at ends of stroke



Nov. 16 1926. 1,607,130

C. Y. KNIGHT MEANS FOR HOLDING PISTONS AGAINST VIBRATION AT ENDS OF STROKE Filed Feb. 5, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Lg; f' l $442. Z INVENTOR ATTORNEY Nov. 16 1926. 1,607,130

C. Y. KNIGHT MEANS FOR HOLDING PISTONS AGAINST VIBRATION AT ENDS OF STROKE 7 Filed Feb. 5. 1923 3 SheetsShee'c 2 ATTORNEY Nov. 16,1926. 1,607,130

C. Y. KNIGHT MEANS FOR HOLDING PISTONS AGAINST VIBRATION AT ENDS OF STROKE Filed Feb. 5 1923 3 sheets-$11661 5 $6 .11, IHIHIHIIHIIE llllillll 68 mnnmrml 11mm r Patented Nov. 16, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES'Y. KNIGHT, OF PASADENA, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR T KNIGHT & KILBOURNE DEVELOPMENT 00., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

MEANS non HOLDING PISTONS AGAINSTVIBRATION AT arms or STROKE.

Application filed February 5, 1923. seriaim. 616,928.

The present invention relates to a broad novel means 1n an engme constructlon having a reciprocating piston, acylinder or other member having a surface in which said piston operates, and rotating crank shaft, whereby any lateral movement or tendency for lateral movement of the piston relative to the cylinder or sleeve or surface within which said piston operates, is counteracted,

prevented or eliminated and the piston steadied for certain periods adjacent either after released as the piston passes dead center and commences to reverse the operation, resulting in a tendency for causin vibrations or piston slap in the opposite irection as the piston reverses particularly violent at the explosion stroke,-if an internal combustion engine is used,the explosion exerting a tremendous force which may drive or tend to'drive the piston laterally against the opposite portion of the cylinder With great impact immediately after the piston rod moves past dead center,

Attempts to avoid this dilficulty or counteract this action have met with little if any success and it is an object of this invention.

to overcome these and other disadvantages by providing means for causing a contact between the piston or a suitable part or separate element and the cylinder or sleeve in which the piston operates which is effective at or adjacent each end only of the pistonstroke to steady .the piston, avoid lateral movement and effectively counteract any tendency for vibration' and any possible socalled piston slap after continued use.

A further object of the present invention is to actuate such a means from the operation of the engine itself, as by a means automatically actuated by the crank shaft, piston rod or piston, etc., or other part of the engine during its cycle of operation and in the desired timed relation thereto or by .means actuated by the changing angularity j of the connecting rod to the piston.

Various other objects are within the scope of th1s invention such as relate to the arrangement of the related elements of the structure; to various details of construction; to economics of manufacture, to each of the other features of novelty as will appean from a consideration of the details of the drawing and related description of 'cer tam forms of the invention, one of which may be preferred, in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a section on line 1-1 of F igure 2.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of one embodiment of the present invention.

F1gures 3,4, 5 and 6 are diagrammatic views showing the action through a threequarter cycle of movement of the piston.

Figure 7 is a-sectional detail of the piston spreading cam illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. V i

Figures 8 and 9 are vertical sectional views showing a modification.

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken on a line 10-10 of Figure 9. I

F gure 11 1s a vertical sectional view, and Figure 1211s a cross-sectional view taken on the line 1212 of Figure 11 of a further modification.

Figure 13 is a vertical sectional view of a further embodiment of the present inven-- tion in which the steadying action is obtaipled by means separate from the piston wa Figure 14 is a similar view of a further modification of the latter principle. 1 Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 7, it wil be seen that the embodiment of the invention illustrated therein is applied to the en-' gine having the cylinder 10, crank shaft12,"

crank 14, piston rod 16 which is coupled to the piston 17 by means ofa wrist pin 20 carried in trunmons 22 and 24. The piston 17. is provided with the piston rings 26and in this case is provided. with' transverse kerfs 28 and 30 to divide the piston so as to permit the skirt part 18 thereof to be spread as will hereinafter appear.

One means of accomplishing the object of the present invention in preventing piston Slap, steadying the piston at the top and bot-' tom of its stroke and eliminating lateral movements, consists in providing a downwardly arched transverse member 31 located preferably at right angles to the wrist pin 20, below the kerfs 28 and 30, and connect IOU connecting rod 16, as shown in Figure 7,

is provided with a dove-tailed slot 35 to receive the tongue 37 of the cam surface member 38, preferably of case hardened material which is adapted to cooperate with the cam surface 32 'on the arch 31 as will hereinafter appear. It will be understood that both, or only one, of the members 31 and the connecting rod 16, may be provided with the cam surface.

The operation of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 7 will be understood from inspection of the diagrammatic Figures 3, .4, 5 and 6. In Figure 3 it will be seen that when the piston 18 is in the medial portion of its stroke, the cam surfaces 32 and 38 are out of contact and the piston moves in the cylinder 10 with the usual amount of clearance. As the piston approaches the end of its upward stroke as shown in Figure 4, the cam 38 begins to roll on the cam surface 32 and tends to force the inverted archedv rib 31 upwardly, having the effect of spreading the thrust sides 18' of the piston skirt 18. In Figure 5 the piston is illustrated at dead center and the angularity of the piston rod 16 has reached zero or is parallel with the piston so that the piston skirt 18 is in contact with the cylinder 10 as-illustrated at 40; It will be seen that as the piston con-- tinues its stroke in the reverse direction through 180 the cam surface 38 will first ride off the surface 32 and the piston be free as in Figure 3 and will thereafter again come in contact with the rib 31 and cause the spreading or steadying action of the piston against the cylinder at the bottom of its stroke, the clead'center of whichis illustrated in Figure 6.

It will thus beseen that I have provided means for causing the contact'between an element, in thiscase a part of the piston itself, with the cylinder at and adjacent the top and bottom of its stroke which will be particularly effective at the explosion. stroke is applied to a gas engine and that said contact is caused by the action of the engine during its cycle, or by the changing angularity of the connecting rod and the piston in the specific embodiment illustrated therein. V

In Figures 8, 9 and 10, I have illustrated a modified embodiment of the present invention in which the piston 17 is provided with a separate section 19 provided with a socket 42 forming a bearing for the transverse cylindrical member 44 which is carried by the arm 46 extending at right angles from the connecting rod 16 in the plane of the wrist pin 20. It will be noted that the free portion 19 of the piston is substantially balanced on each side of and with respect to the movable supporting 'means in the socket 42 and cylinder 44, this being desirable to avoid any possible vibration in the action of this part of the mechanism. Pins 47 secure the member 44 to the arm 46.

It is believed that the operation of the embodiment illustrated in Figures 8, 9 and 10 will be understood from the foregoing description of the action illustrated diagrammatically in Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6. Fig ure 8 illustrates the position of the parts corresponding with Figure 3 with the piston half way up on its stroke. As the piston moves up to assume the osition illustrated in Figure-9 the angu arity of the piston rod 16 decreases and the arm 46 swings in an arc with the center of the wrist pin 20 as its center which moves the .element 19 into contact with the wall 10 of the cylinder.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures, 11 and 12, instead of providing the separate thrust bearing po rtion 19 of the embodiment illustrated in Figures 8 to 10, I have provided a thrust member 18 integral with the piston I 18 at the bottom thereof and formed by'cutting three sides of the member 18' from the' skirt of the piston 18. The thrust bearing portion 18 is thus spring or hinge connectsimilar to that of Figures 8 to 10, the dot and dash lineson Figure llillustrating the retracted position of the link connection between the piston rod 16 and the thrust portion 18 of the piston. proaches-the end of its stroke it will be seen that the toggle action of the connecting link 45-through the pin 52 actuated from the piston rod 16 straightens the connecting link 45 into the position illustrated in Figure 11 forcing the thrust portion 18 of the piston 18 against the cylinder Wall 10.

In Figure 13 is illustrated a further modification of the embodiment of the invention heretofore described in which the steadying or vibration eliminating means actuated by the changing angul-ari ty of the As the piston apfrom the piston and operates through a suitable opening in the piston to contact with the cylinder wall to obtain the results secured in the previously described embodiment of the present invention. In this instance the piston 18 is provided with an opening 60 and the piston rod 16 is provided with a right angle extension 62 carrying a roller 64 sha ed to properly fit the cylinder wall an supported by a ball bearing 66, the roller 64 projecting through the opening 60 in the piston wall. The len h of the arm 62 and the size of the roller 64 may be made such as to contact with the surface of the cylinder 10 when the piston is at the top and bottom of its stroke, the position illustrated in Figure 13, while in the intermediate position as in the previous embodiments the roller 64 moves out of contact with the cylinder wall 10 as illustrated by the dot and dash lines on Figure 1 3. The invention illustrated in Figure 14 is similar to the embodiment contained in Figure 13 excepting that the piston rod 16 carries two'thrust arms 68 and 70 instead of the single arm 62 of Figure and is provided with opposite thrust rollers 72 and 74 whose contacting surfaces with the cylinder 10 will be arc-shaped, as will be understood to properly contact with the interior of the cylinder wall 10.

It will be seen that the embodiment illustrated in Figures 13 and 14 will relieve the pressure of the piston and the cylinder walls at the top and bottom of the stroke as compared with the embodiment'of the invention illustrated in the other figures and at the same time will provide for the steadying action preventing vibrations, noise and pis-' ton slap at these periods in the cycle of operation. At the same time the construction permits entirely free transfer of the piston in the cylinder 10 in the intermediate positions as will be understood from the drawings and foregoing description. It will also be understood that in actual practice any movement necessary to effect a contact with the cylinder wall at the top and bottom of the piston strokes by an element actuated from the piston rod is but a few thousandths of an inch and may be varied to meet the exigencies of any case by varying the cams or cam '38 or the length or position of the armsAG, lengths 45 and arms 62, 68 and 70. It is also apparent that the invention may be applied to a sleeve valve type of engine and that a reversal of the movable part or separate element with respect to the location of the same on either the piston or the cylinder (or sleeve) may be arranged without departing from the present inventive idea of means.

It is apparent that within the spirit of the invention modifications and different arrangements may be made other than as herein disclosed, and the present disclosure is illustrative merely, the invention comprehending all variations illustrated.

through the changing angularity of said connecting rod and sa1d piston.

2. In an engine, a rotary crank shaft, a reciprocating piston, a cylindrical surface in which said piston moves, a piston rod connection between said pistonand crank shaft and means actuated from said crank shaft by an operation of said engine to causeengagement between surfaces on said piston and said cylindrical surface adjacent the ends of the stroke of said piston.

In a reciprocating type of engine having a rotary crank shaft, a reciprocating piston and a cylindrical surface in which said piston operates, means actuated from the crank shaft of said engine to .cause engagement between said piston and said cylindrical surface at either end of the stroke of said piston. v

4'. In a reciprocatin type of engine having a rotary crank s aft, a reciprocating piston and a cylinder in which said piston moves, means on opposite sides of said piston for causing engagement between Op 0- site sides of "said piston and the cylin er wall at the end of said piston stroke and as said piston moves past dead center.

5, In an engine, a rotary crank shaft, a reciprocating piston, a cylindrical surface in which said piston moves, a piston rod connecting said piston with the crank of said crank shaft and means operated by said Tcrank shaft to counteract lateral movement of said piston in said cylinder as said piston reverses its direction of movement at either end of the stroke thereof.

6. In a reciprocating type of engine having a cylinder, a piston, a crank shaft and a connecting rod between said crank shaft of said piston, means for preventing relative movement between portions of the cylinder and piston at and adjacent each end of the stroke of said piston only.

. 7 In an engine having a reciprocating piston, means automatically operating at each end of the strokes of the piston for causing engagement between unyielding portions of the piston andcylinder to prevent- "lateral movement of the piston with respect to the cylinder.

8. In an engine having a reciprocating piston, means automatically operating at each end of the stroke of the piston for causing engagement between portions of the piston and cylinder to prevent lateral movement of the piston with respect to the cylinder, said means being ineffective during the middle -portion of the travel of said piston.

9. In an engine having a rotary crank shaft, a reciprocating piston, a link'connection between said shaft and piston tending to move said piston laterally in one direction at the top and bottom of each stroke of the piston and means to move said piston laterally in the opposite direction to counteract said action of said link connection in moving said piston.

10. In an engine having a rotary crank shaft, a reciprocating piston, a coengaging surface enclosing said piston and a connection between said shaft and piston tending to move said piston laterally, means for causing unyielding engagement between opposite sides of said piston and the surface within which said piston operates adjacent to ends of the piston strokes to avoid lateral movement of the piston, said means including extensible members on opposite sides of the piston.

11. In a reciprocating type of engine having a rotary crank shaft, a reciprocating piston and cylindrical surface within which said piston operates, means operated by said crank shaft to continuously counteract any I, lateral component of the thrust between the connections for the crank shaft and piston,

said means operating to permit free travel of the piston in the middle portion of the stroke of said piston.

12. In engine mechanism of theclass described, the combination of a piston having expansible opposite sides; and means operatively connected'with the engine for expanding the sides of the piston.

13. In an engine, a piston, a cylinder and piston rod, means operativel connected with said rod for steadyin t e piston at top and bottom \of its stro e through the changing angularity of said connecting rod in relation tosaid piston whereby a steadying pressure is alternately applied to cylinder walls when piston is at top and bottom of stroke, and withdrawn therefrom when Is)a1d plston is traveling up and down the ore.

14. In an engine, a rotating crank shaft,

a reciprocating piston,.a wall providing a surface within which said piston moves, a

piston rod connecting said'crank shaft with said piston and means for steadying said 1 piston relative to said surface'ad acent the top and bottom of its stroke only. p 15. In an engine, a rotating crank shaft,

'a reciprocating piston, a member having a surface within which said piston moves, a

piston rod connecting said crank shaft with said piston, and means for steadying said piston relative to said surface adjacent the top and bottom of its stroke actuated by intermediate the top and bottom of the stroke. i

16. In an engine, a rotary crank shaft,.a reciprocating piston, a cylindrical surface in which said piston moves, a piston rod connection between said piston and crank shaft andmeans. actuated by an operation of said engine to cause engagement between a plurality of separated surfaces on said piston and said cylindrical surface adjacent the ends of the stroke ofsaid piston to steady the piston, said means being inoperative intermediate the ends of the piston stroke.

17. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination of a rotatable crank shaft;

.a chamber adjacent said shaft; a reciproscribed, the combination of a pistonhaving expansible sides; and means operatively connected with the engine for positively expending the sides of the piston at predetermined points'in the cycle of the piston movement, said means including a rod pivoted to said piston and adapted to contact with an expansible portion of the piston.

20. The combination of a slidable head member; a connecting rod pivotally attached thereto; a guideway for said member; and positively actuated means connected with the rod for preventing lateral movement of said head member.

21. In means-for preventing piston slap,

the combination of a piston head having a depending wall with expansible portions; a

casing in which said piston is adapted to have movement; a piston rod attached to the piston and separable camming members positioned intermediate the piston rod and the expansible walls of said piston, said camming members being effective to distend the piston wag one of sai ing surface.

22. In a iston construction, the combina tion of a plston having a depending wall; a piston rod pivotally mounted intermediate sa d wall; a eammingmember mounted on said piston rod; a roller mounted on said wall and adapted to cooperate with said camming member, said wall being yieldable ad acent said roller.

members being a rotatable hearsaid Wall;

23. In a piston construction, the combination of a piston having a depending wall; a head and "piston rod pivotally attached to and means for transmitting power from said piston rod to said Wall, said means including an interengaging roller and a cam attached to the rod and Wall and positioned thereinbetween.

24. In a piston construction, the oombi11a' tionof a piston having a transversely movable depending wall section; a piston rod pivotally mounted within said wall section;

and means for transmitting variable pressure from said piston rod to said section.

25. In a piston construction, the combina- 15 tion of a iston having a depending skirt; a piston rod -pivota l1y connected to said skirt; and a connecting member interposed between the piston rod, pivot and theskirt adapted to transmit pressure fromthe rod to the skirt, which pressure is maximum at the limit of the piston stroke.

1 In testimonywhereof, I aflix my signature.

CHARLES Y. KNIGHT. 

